Out of Africa, Not Out of Ideas

As the thunder and darkened skies passed this late afternoon we put on one of my favorite movies, Out of Africa. It has been years since I’ve watched it and I once again loved it. I was reminded by so many things both about Africa and life. Awhile ago I had a chance to visit the home of Isak Denison, better known as Baroness Karen Blixen, in the film. It also made me think of people who decry, “oh that place is so overdone”. I thoroughly enjoyed visiting her home of seventeen years and the memories she wrote about it.

It has become an overused phrase, like the cool dip in the ocean off the Hamptons or coastal Maine is no longer worthy of doing. I am so sick of the critique of visiting popular places; there is a reason that spaces entice. Just bring your own sense of place—I trust feelings. Overcome crowds—they have a right to be there. I would have loved to be the first traveler to enter Petra. I have twice, and both times felt amazed in different ways. The world gets smaller so expand your mind. I guess if you can watch a play by Shakespeare out in Tanglewood or in the Met, you get what I am saying.